Survey: Is your SO into fitness?

[Natasha]

My survey of the week!

All of us here are into fitness activities of some type, or at least good healthy eating. Is your SO the same way? And did one of you get the other into fitness? (Or was it maybe a family member or friend?)

My answer is easy: we are both fitness fiends, so neither got the other one into it. My SO is not a huge runner (though he does run occasionally), but he loves sports, cardio, weights, and is at least as into eating healthy as I am. In fact, his abs are better than mine (mine are pretty darn good, but his are washboard washboard), and he s the one who taught me to do killer crunches! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif



[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 01-10-2001).]

[kwormann]

As some of you may know, my DH has MD and me fanorite exercises are painful for him to do (walking, running, aerobics). He does, however, like to ride his bike, so in an effort to be together, we will go to the park at the same time, then he will go to the bike trail and I will go to the running track and we meet up at the end.

I guess its something and since I dont like biking as much, its our way http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

KIm

[Laura]

My fiance was a world class swimmer so... needless to say, he is definitely into fitness. We are able to run together because he has bad knees from skiing (so we can also ski together because he won't do the manical runs anymore and I never did.) We will swim at the same time but in the time that I have gone a mile he has usually gone about 2 and a half. I used to be intimidated that he was so much more athletic then I am but he says one of the things that he loves about me is my willingness to go out and try something new and different.

[This message has been edited by Laura (edited 01-10-2001).]

[Robin C]

My husband does nothing!!! He is very lean and muscular. He makes me sick. Everything I put in my mouth goes straight to my hips. He does have an physical job so he thinks he doesnt need to exercise - untrue. He needs to get some cardio for his heart. All in all - I'm gelouse!!!

[Gina O]

My SO bikes a lot in good weather, but is not a runner at all. We go for walks, and bike together when we can. We have been going to the gym together for the last few weeks, me running and him walking on the treadmills.

Can't say that either of us got the other one into it directly... he was biking long before I met him. I have always enjoyed biking as well, but will say I started doing it more with him. But, it is my sister that got me into running. Gina

[slknight]

Well, my DH and I were both college athletes. I was, and still am, a swimmer. He was a hammer thrower, so his emphasis was on getting big and strong, but definitely didn't do much aerobic work.

Now that he doesn't throw anymore, I am trying to encourage him to do more activities than just lift weights. He has actually just discovered spinning. They have a spinning class at the Y at the same time that we have masters swimming so we can go together and meet up afterwards.

Laura-what team did you fiance swim for?



[This message has been edited by slknight (edited 01-11-2001).]

[BevP]

Well, my DH is a marine and was when we met so obviously he's into fitness. Marines have a fitness test twice a year and the results can help decide whether they get promoted. I've never been as excited about exercise and hate running, which is his main aerobic activity. So we very seldom exercise together.

[hhcowgirl]

Natasha--my SO sounds like yours. He's not big on running (he'll go about 2 miles) but lifts weights regularly and loves various other sports. It is really fun when we can enjoy them together--for instance, skiing, mountain biking, etc. He definitely does less than me on a regular basis, though, and looks GREAT despite cheeseburgers and french fries. Makes me jealous . . .

[Sandy1]

Last March my partner & I made a decision to attempt some major lifestyle changes. We both felt uncomfortable with our weight and fitness level. We worked together to assemble a small 'home gym', and Cooking Light became my bible. Since that time we have collectively lost 55 pds. and reshaped our 'old' bods! Altho we don't exercise together (with the exception of occasional walks...which have been curtailed due to the cougar activity around here), we spend a lot of time talking over our workouts, exchanging ideas on different exercises and basically just motivating each other. It's like having a live in training partner.
And we keep each other 'clean' when it comes to eating. Just knowing that there's someone who'll be watching you scoff down that bag of potato chips or box of cookies makes a big difference:-)
And it's brought us closer together; which is more than likely the biggest benefit.
Sandy.

[phantomcg]

Wow, I hope that all of you know just how lucky you are to have SO's that are interested in staying heathly. My husband could care less. He does absolutly no physical activity and eats bad. I do have to say that he eats better now than when we first met, back then all he ate was fried foods. Now at least he eats more baked (more likely microwaved) chicken, but still eats a lot of "junk food". We don't eat together very often because since September he has been working two and a half hours away from home. He is only home on the weekends (unless he has to work). He will not eat any vegetables (except corn) or pasta. It is definatly a "challenge" for me to cook something both of us will eat. Nine times out of ten, I make a meal and serve him the meat and I eat the veggies, I cook us each a separate meal, or he throws something in the microwave and I cook for myself.

Cheryl

[This message has been edited by phantomcg (edited 01-11-2001).]

[MrsReber]

Robin, I can relate. My husband has almost no fat on his body. He gained 20 pounds since I met him, but you'd never know since he's 6ft 5in and still only weighs around 180! He eats all the time, but at least he likes to eat healthy. He doesn't get much traditional excercise, but he is always doing something. Can't ever really sit still. During hunting season, he does walk alot. He likes to work on things in the garage. We've talked about going to the gym together, but he's not really into it. He lifts some weights on occasion since we have a weight bench in the basement. He does have bad feet. Some crazy doctor tried to fix his flat feet when he was a baby. Leg braces, many operations, and now he has bad feet because they actually fused some of his bones together in order to create an arch. He now has slight arthritis (which will only get worse) at the age of 32. So I guess running is out of the question!

Me? I have to account for all my calories and get exercise or I get plenty flabby- but of course!

[lindrusso]

My hubby is theroetically into physical fitness, but he has not been doing much lately. He likes to run, but has met with the challenges that Gina was facing with icy roads and such!

It's hard for him because he doesn't want to spend time away from the kids in the evenings to go work out (he also belongs to the Y, but you'd never know it http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ). Sometimes he'll run late in the evening or early in the morning, but he hasn't been consistent. He loves to lift, but never gets to the gym.

Anyway, I've been trying to get him to think about getting up earlier (that's really his downfall - he likes to stay up late, get up late), get out of work earlier and go work out before coming home. So far, he hasn't done it.

It's funny...I think of him as actually being more into physical fitness. When he was in the Army, he was in great shape - especially after he went through Boot Camp! Now he's just a tad flabby.

I exercise more, but I still don't know if I would say I'm into fitness - I'm more into not being fat! I was into aerobics and such before I met my husband - I don't think anyone got me into it other than myself - maybe my mom - we used to do aerobics together!

[Laura]

Originally posted by slknight:

Laura-what team did you fiance swim for?
[This message has been edited by slknight (edited 01-11-2001).]

He swam for USC in their hey day 1975-1979. I think they won 3 NCAA championships while he was there. He also made the 80 Olympic team but of course that was the year they didn't go. Do by any chance know Barb Lindquist (she was Metz in college) She swam for Stanford. (I thought she might be a swimming contemporary of yours - she is a world ranked triathlete now) She was a swimming buddy of my fiance when when we lived in Jackson.



[This message has been edited by Laura (edited 01-11-2001).]

[Jessica]

Wow. We are just slugs compared to the rest of you folks. I started exercising seriously about two years ago (cardio, weights and yoga) and was doing very well until this recent injury/illness, which still is a problem. My DH ran in high school and college but then took a demanding job (80-100 hours a week out of town) and gained a lot of weight. I nagged him to go to the fitness center with me and it never worked. Then, very slowly, I lost a little weight and began showing some muscle definition (I am a long way from killer abs, Natasha). I kept saying how good I felt, and all of a sudden he was going to the gym when he was in town. The only frustrating part is now I cannot go because of this weird health thing. I can walk but everything else is painful. I am hoping the doctors can figure out the problem soon.

[Natasha]

Originally posted by Jessica:
(I am a long way from killer abs, Natasha).

Hey, I wouldn t say mine are quite killer (yet) either! I have to keep working on it, which reminds me that I still have to do my killer crunches tonight http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif .

Seriously, I hope the doctors can figure out this injury/illness of yours soon. How frustrating for you! I can relate. Let us know how it goes.

Everyone, thanks for your responses. I really enjoyed reading them. Have a lovely evening.

[Laura]

Originally posted by Natasha:
mine are pretty darn good,
[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 01-10-2001).]

Natasha
In conjunction w/Lindrusso's thread what is your killer work out for lower abs. For those of us who have kids that is the toughest (IMO). My abs are ok, but would love a challenge!

I have heard (or maybe I just want to believe this because it would be a good excuse) that it is very difficult for women to get "washboard" abs because we would have to get our body fat to a level that is too low. What do you think?


[This message has been edited by Laura (edited 01-11-2001).]

[Natasha]

Originally posted by Laura:
Natasha
In conjunction w/Lindrusso's thread what is your killer work out for lower abs. For those of us who have kids that is the toughest (IMO). My abs are ok, but would love a challenge!

I have heard (or maybe I just want to believe this because it would be a good excuse) that it is very difficult for women to get "washboard" abs because we would have to get our body fat to a level that is too low. What do you think?


[This message has been edited by Laura (edited 01-11-2001).]

Laura,

I find that abs are my biggest challenge too, even though I don t have kids! They ve always been my Waterloo, so to speak. I have also heard the same thing you have about it being very difficult for women to have washboard abs, and I cling to this when I see that mine aren t. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I ve also heard that it s healthier for women to have a little bit of flesh on their abs.

As for what I do, not much! All I do on any kind of regular basis are plain crunches but I really concentrate on technique (hands crossed over my chest, legs not moving, face looking straight up...so all the work and burn comes right from the midsection. I honestly thought that there wasn t much hope for me and abs but since doing crunches fairly regularly (okay, many weeks it s just 3x), they have increased muscle definition, and are probably a bit flatter also.

I do a few other exercises when I remember them, taken from old issues of Shape and Fitness magazines. They re for different sets of ab muscles. Rather than try to describe them myself now and do a pathetic job, I ll find the magazines and then post the info for you.

Also, I keep reading about those big balls you see at the gym, and about how great they are for abs (I don t read Shape too much anymore, but recently there was an article on this and I bought the issue.). I ve only used one of these balls a couple times, but plan to buy one to use for ab exercises at home.

Hope this helps.

[food girl]

Before I met my husband I dated sloth man. He did no exercise and he was a little squishy. Anyway we broke up partially because he felt that I spent too much time at the gym!

I met my DH at the gym and we still go together regularly. We bike together every weekend and we are thinking about getting a tandem bicycle.

I went for a nice ride today and DH called me from out of town to see how it went and tell me how much he wished he could have gone. I think I have been taking this aspect of him and our marriage for granted.

My person theory on washboard abs (sounds like a term paper) is that you really have to have them early - 10 to 18 years old and then maintain them. I haven't known an adult woman with them who didn't have them as a young girl or adolescent. These are usually gymnasts and sometimes swimmers.

Anyone out there who developed them as an adult?

[Pat58]

I'm very proud of my Ole' Fred, married 24 years this past November. He had been getting progressively out of shape, miserable, with a beer gut Santa would envy. When I went on Weight Watchers and started making our basically healthy meals much lighter, he began losing weight by default! After noticing his pants getting looser, he "healthied up" his breakfast and lunch, which he makes for himself, and cut back on beer, milk and cookies. Last year he joined my gym and he just renewed for another year! He looks fabulous, compared to two years ago. Really buffed. Now, he'll even eat kale when I cook it, as long as I make steak at least once a month!

[hhcowgirl]

I wouldn't say I developed "washboard abs" per se, but my abdominal section is definitely flatter and more appealing tahn it was when I was in my teens. I would almost go so far as to say it is flat (not necessarily with the definition of a "washboard") and this was all accomplished in my early 20s, when I got seriously into staying in shape. So I guess I would say you don't necessarily have to have had great abs when you were younger to have okay ones today.

[JanetB]

My boyfriend and I just started WW together. I will admit that talked him into it. We've been together over two years - and they have not been healthy years! We both like to eat!

Now, he is so anal over WW points it is almost scarey. I can't complain though - he needs to lose about 80lbs - and I'm not standing in his way. I have 20lbs of my own to shed! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif